Crane and block for dredge-boats.



No. 789,322. PATENTED MAY 9, 1905. G. W. & J. B. GBRHART. CRANE ANDBLOCK FOR DREDGE BOATS.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 18,1904.

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anventou witncsmo No. 789,322. PATENTED MAY 9, 1905. G. W. 8; J. B.GERHAET. CRANE AND BLOCK FOR DREDGE BOATS.

APPLICATION FILED OUT 18,1904.

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Zinmniovo PATENTED MAY 9, 1905.

G. W. & J. B. GERHART. CRANE AND BLOCK FOR DREDGE BOATS.

APPLICATION FILED 0OT.18,1904.

3 SHEETB-SHEET 3.

l/ Ill Ill/ll llll'f Witness CWW UNITED STATES Patented May 9, 1,905.

PATENT OEEIcE.

GEORGE W. GERHART AND JOSEPH B. GERHART, OF LANVRENOE COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

CRANE AND BLOCK FOR DREDGE-BOATS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 789,322, dated. May 9,1905.

Application filed October 18, 1904. Serial No. 229,022.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GEORGE W. GER- HART and J osnrn B. GERHART,citizens of the United States, residing in Lawrence county, State ofIllinois, have invented a new and useful. Crane and Block forDredge-Boats, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to cranes for dredgeboats, and has for its objectto provide a device of the class wherein the crane can be lowered atwill in order to pass under 0bstructions, such as bridges, &c.

A further object of our invention is to provide a crane for dredge-boatsin which the crane travels on and is supported by a segmental track.

A further object of our invention is to do away with the A-framecommonly used 011 dredge-boats to support the weight of the crane.

With these objects in view our invention consists in the novelconstruction of the crane-supporting parts and. also in certaincombinations of parts, which will be first fully described and afterwardspecifically pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1. is a side elevation ofthe crane, the boat and track being shown in section. Fig. 2 is a topplan view of same. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the crane pivot-block.Fig. 4- is a top plan view of same. Fig. 5 is a front elevation of same.Fig. 6 is an elevation of the crane-block pivot-pin. Fig. 7 is a topplan of same. Fig. 8 is a bottom plan of same. Fig. 9 is a top plan andside elevation of the crane-block-holding ring; and Fig. 10 is a frontelevation. of crane and track, the front or bow of the boat beingremoved. Fig.

-0 11 is a side elevation showing crane dropped.

down.

Like numerals of reference indicate the same parts throughout theseveral figures, in whichindicates the boat, and 2 indicates a segmentaltrack, which is suitably supported in the front or bow of the boat. Saidtrack is made up of sections 3, any one of which may be removed, and thesections may be covered with a suitable sheet metal, or, in fact, thesections themselves may be constructed. of metal, if desired.

4 indicates the crane, which may be of any desired construction, butpreferably as shown and having a truss 5.

A suitable bracket 6 is secured to the crane, and rollers 7 are carriedin said bracket, said. rollers being designed to travel on the track 2,as shown.

8 indicates the crane pivot-block, which, as shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5,is provided with a tapered bore 9, two projecting crane-supporting lugs10 on the top thereof, and 2 preferably transverse bolt-holes 11. Thetwo arms 12 of the crane straddle this block and are bolted thereto bythrough-bolts 13, as shown in Fig. 1.

14 indicates the crane-block pivot-pin, which, as shown. in Figs. 6, 7,and 8, is tapered and formed with a base 15, constructed so as to bebolted to the bottom timbers of the boat. A securing-ring 16 is providedfor securing the crane pivot-block on the pivotpin by transverse boltspassing through the pivot-pin and securin -ring.

Located in. the tradk 2 are a series of rollers 17, over which thecrane-controlling cables 18 pass, said cables being secured to thebracket 6 on the crane, said controlling-cables leading aft to beoperated in any suitable manner.

The bucket operating cable 19 passes through the center of thecrane-block pivotpin and leads aft, so that the pull is always direct.

Having thus described the several parts of our invention, its operationis as follows: In order to lower the crane, one of the bolts 13 isremoved from the crane and crane pivotblock and one of thetrack-sections 3 is re moved, which allows the crane to drop down, asshown in Fig. 11 but should this not lower the crane sufliciently theremaining bolt can be removed and the crane carried aft and laid flat011 the boat.

The means for operating the crane may be altered or varied at will inorder to meet existing conditions, and we do not wish to be understoodas limiting ourselves to the exact construction as herein set forth, asvarious slight changes may be made therein by those skilled in the art,and We consider ourselves clearly entitled to all such changes andmodifications.

What We claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patentof the United States, is

1. In a crane for dredge-boats, the combination with the crane andpivoting means, of a segmental track for supporting said crane, saidsegmental track being made up of removable sections, substantially asdescribed.

2. In a crane for dredge-boats, the combination With the crane andpivoting means, of a segmental track for supporting said crane, saidtrack bein constructed so as to allow the crane to be lowered,substantially as described.

3. In a crane for dredge-boats, the combinatlon with the crane andpivoting means, of a segmental track, l'or supporting said crane,

and rollers carried on said crane to run on said track, substantially asdescribed.

4. In a crane for dredge-boats the combination With the crane, of acrane pivotblock to which said crane is secured, and a craneblockpivot-pin constructed to receive said zrane pivot-block, substantiallyas described.

5. In a crane for dredge-boats, the combination With the crane, of acrane pivot-block to Which said crane is secured and a craneblockpivot-pin constructed to receive said crane pivot-block and providedWith a central openin through Which the bucket-operating cable passes,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof We have signed our names in the presence of tWosubscribing witnesses.

GEORGE W. GERHART. JOSEPH B. GERHART. Witnesses:

I. EQToWNsLEY, THOMAS B. CoUL'rER.

